Former legislative aide tapped to run for Colorado House seat

A vacancy committee tapped Kim Ransom, a former legislative aide, to run as the Republican nominee for a Douglas County seat in the Colorado House.

Kim Ransom

Ransom beat four other contenders in the first vote Saturday for the seat now held by state Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, who is running for the Senate seat held by Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, who is term limited. The other four vying for Holbert’s seat in Saturday’s vote were Debbie Cohen, Kim Monson, Debbie Lewis and Donald Parrot.

“I was very lucky and I was very blessed,” Ransom said of the vote.

The 55-year-old mother of four is a customer service representative for a vacation rentals outlet, VRBO.com. She previously worked as a legislative aide for two Douglas County state senators, Republicans John Evans and Tom Wiens.

The winner of the June GOP primary for Holbert’s seat was Douglas County Commissioner Jack Hilbert, but he dropped out of the race after being tapped by Democratic Gov. John Hicklenlooper’s administration to serve as the child welfare hotline system manager for the Colorado Department of Human Services starting July 14. Another vacancy committee will meet Monday to pick a replacement for Hilbert’s seat on the Douglas County board.

Ransom faces Democrat Karen Jae Smith in November, but it will be tough for Smith as the seat is in the heart of Republican Country.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.